Fontenot leads the way in stirring Cubs win

Tuesday

Jun 26, 2007 at 12:01 AMJun 26, 2007 at 7:23 PM

Cubs beat Rockies 10-9.

Jeff Vorva

What looked like a glorious night for rookie Mike Fontenot and the Cubs turned ugly quickly in the ninth inning.
Then it quickly turned glorious again as the Cubs pulled out a 10-9 victory with two runs with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.
Fontenot had a career-best five hits, and the Cubs took an 8-3 lead into the ninth. But Scott Eyre and Bob Howry surrendered that lead, and moments after Howry gave up a three-run homer to Troy Tulowitzki to give the Rockies a 9-8 lead, a patron ran from the stands and charged the mound. He was inches away from Howry, who did not move, before security grabbed the man and escorted him away.
The Cubs rallied for the win with a two-out burst in the bottom of the frame. With a runner on first, pinch-hitter Koyie Hill singled to left. Ryan Theriot then hit a grounder to second that Kazuo Matsui bobbled for an error to load the bases. Alfonso Soriano followed with a single to right that drove in the tying and winning runs.
Before the scary incident, Fontenot went 5-for-5 with two doubles, two runs and two RBI in front of a Wrigley Field crowd of 40,269. Fontenot raised his average from .345 to .397 with the huge night and has hits in his last seven-at bats.
He also received a standing ovation for a diving stop of Brad Hawpe’s hot grounder even though his throw to second to try to get Garrett Atkins was late and everyone was safe.
Derrek Lee (three hits), Mark DeRosa (three RBI) and Angel Pagan (three-run homer) also paced the offense.
Earlier, it looked like Jason Marquis was en route to his first victory since May 9, when he threw a shutout against Pittsburgh.
Fontenot, who wasn’t even invited to spring training this year, has gained the respect of the organization. He received the ultimate compliment from his boss when he looked at the lineup card Monday night.
Aramis Ramirez was at third base for the first time since coming off the disabled list with a knee injury on Friday. DeRosa, who took over for Ramirez, did not go back to his customary spot at second base. The left-handed-hitting Fontenot was in the lineup against left-handed starter Jeff Francis. The veteran DeRosa was moved to right field Monday.
Francis gave up six runs on 10 hits in five innings.
It appears that Fontenot wants to follow in the footsteps of Soriano.
Soriano was named National League Player of the Week on Monday after hitting .480 with four homers and five RBI last week. He receives a Swiss watch for his efforts.
Not only did Soriano have a banner week, he’s having a tremendous June. In his first 23 games in June, he hit .350 with 11 homers and 16 RBI.
“I’m feeling very comfortable at the plate,” Soriano said. “My bat speed and power is there. I’m feeling good.”
Soriano struggled in April, hitting .270 with one home run, and parts of May before turning it on this month.
“Boy, he’s really been hot,” Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. “The warmer weather has helped. The move to left field (from center) has helped. I think the fact that he’s acclimated himself to these day-night games has helped. Having (rookie Felix) Pie here helped. They seem to have a nice rapport going.
“And the last reason is that he’s a very talented young man who is finally hitting his stride.”
More Cubs coverage is at www.dailysouthtown.com/sports.